Case LXXIV: Street Confessions

Case.—Columbanus, a priest in good standing, passing along the street, is accosted by a layman, who after a few minutes’ conversation requests the priest to hear his confession then and there. After some hesitation, the priest does so, and finding no reserved case, he imparts absolution.

Question.—Did Father Columbanus act correctly under these circumstances?

Solution.—The sacred character of the Sacrament of Penance demands that the graces of the Sacrament should be imparted in a solemn and sacred way. Hence the Church has determined that all confessions are ordinarily to be heard in a church; by the name church are not to be understood private oratories; hence confessions are not to be heard in private oratories, unless special permission be granted by the Bishop of the Diocese for such a practice. The Councils of Baltimore are explicit enough on this point, and they authoritatively declare that confessionals are to be erected in all churches in suitable and convenient places, where the faithful may reverently receive the holy Sacrament of Penance. Strictly speaking, then, confessions are not to be heard outside of a church unless circumstances are otherwise than ordinary. On the other hand, all authorities concede that in the presence of extraordinary conditions confessions may be heard anywhere, provided the place be in keeping with the dignity of the Sacrament; this demands, as the minimum, that the place be “decent.” Of course, in cases of urgent necessity, as in the presence of danger of death, the spiritual welfare of the soul will call for the administration of the Sacrament anywhere. As to the present case, it must be said that the practice of hearing confessions on the street, when there is no question of danger of death, is not to be countenanced. It can easily be seen that, were such a procedure admitted as a general thing, the way would be opened to extreme carelessness, and no proper safeguard could then be provided whereby the reverence due to the Sacrament, as a grace-giving institution of Christ, could be maintained. Hence the Church has wisely legislated against such a custom. However, it cannot be denied that there may betimes, not speaking of the needs of the moribund, when it would not be illicit to hear confessions outside of a church, and even on the street. Where there is a sufficiently grave reason, the Church would not be against the imparting of absolution (per modum actionis) even on the street. If, for instance, a man found himself in mortal sin, and to remain in that condition for any length of time grievously disturbed him; or if he had to go on a journey of duty, exposing himself to danger on the way, and if in neither case he could go to a church to make his confession, assuredly he would be justified in confessing even on the street. He might be a sea-voyager, about to take ship for a distant land, and by reason of lack of time unable to go to a church. He would be compelled to sail the ocean with his soul burdened by sin, unless he could confess to a priest whom he fortunately meets on the dock. To take advantage of his opportunity to remove his grave spiritual danger would undoubtedly be justifiable. The action of Columbanus would have to be judged in the light of the principles just set forth. If grave and weighty reasons were present, his action was licit, but it was illicit in the absence of sufficient reason. Indiscriminate hearing of confessions on the street cannot be defended against the positive legislation of the Church determining the proper place for the reverential administration on this Sacrament.